(UPM, Helsinki, 7 March, 2013 at 11:00 EET) – UPM has been awarded the EU Ecolabel Communication Award 2012 in the Producer/Retailer category. UPM Paper is the largest producer of newsprint, graphic and copying papers with the EU Ecolabel. Third-party ecolabels prove the environmental quality of products and support customers in their choices.

"With so many different environmental labels currently existing, producers and consumers know that having the EU Ecolabel is the best way to prove throughout Europe that their products have excellent environmental performance", says Michele Galatola, EU Ecolabel Coordinator, DG Environment, European Commission.

The EU Ecolabel Communication Award recognises holders of the EU Ecolabel that have shown outstanding achievement in increasing public awareness and knowledge of the EU Ecolabel through promotional campaigns. The jury is composed of the European Commission, representatives of several Competent Bodies, as well as the press and a representative of an NGO.

“Our consistent work with e.g. resource efficiency has made it possible to meet the EU Ecolabel requirements. With the EU Ecolabel we have been able to further promote paper and print as a sustainable solution and communications platform. By increasing public awareness and knowledge of EU Ecolabel through different communications and promotional campaigns we can support our customers’ daily work, says Thomas Ehrnrooth, Vice President, Marketing, UPM Paper.

UPM offers EU Ecolabelled paper products from 16 paper mills in Austria, Finland, France, Germany and the UK. In 2012, UPM became the first company to produce newsprint with the EU Ecolabel.

“We want to encourage our customers to start to utilize EU Ecolabel in their own products. UPM cooperates with Printing house Lönnberg who applied for the EU Ecolabel for their printed products - now UPM’s Annual Report 2012 is one of the first printed products with EU Ecolabel”, comments Thomas Ehrnrooth.

The EU Ecolabel is the European Union's official indication of the most environmentally responsible products. It is the most recognised environmental label.

UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 22,000 people and it has production plants in 17 countries. UPM's annual sales exceed EUR 10 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com

UPM PaperUPM has 21 modern and sustainable paper mills in Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, China, and the United States. As the world’s leading producer of graphic papers, UPM Paper provides customers with renewable high-performance products, and delivers more through efficient practises and continuous innovation. UPM Paper’s annual net sales amounted to EUR 7.2 billion in 2012 and the business group employs approximately 12,600 people. To learn more about UPM Paper, visit: www.upmpaper.com.

UPM’s Biofore vision and consistent work on corporate responsibility has recently gained recognition from different parties. UPM was listed as the only forestry and paper company worldwide in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and also recognized as the ‘Most Innovative Company’ at the 2012 Ethical Corporation Awards. In the Nordic Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, UPM was ranked in the first place with top scores. UPM is one of seven paper producers to receive an award from the WWF in the category of ‘Transparency’ during the 2012 WWF Environmental Paper Awards. www.upmresponsibility.com